Mads Mikkelsen to star in new thriller Polar

Mads Mikkelsen is set to star in the new action-thriller 'Polar' and producer Jeremy Bolt said he was "born to play" the role of assassin Duncan Vizla

Mads Mikkelsen is set to star in new action-thriller 'Polar'.

The 51-year-old actor has appeared in a number of Hollywood blockbusters during his career, including 'Doctor Strange', 'Casino Royale' and 'Rogue One: A Star Wars Story', and he is now set to star in Swedish director Jonas Akerlund's new film.

'Polar' - which is an adaptation of Victor Santos' Dark Horse graphic novel, 'Polar: Came With the Cold' - follows the world's top assassin Duncan Vizla, aka the Black Kaiser, who is retiring from his former employer.

Soon he finds himself being hunted by an army of younger, faster and ruthless killers who will stop at nothing to silence him.

With no other choice, he has to return to the assassin life and he must use his deadly skills to outsmart his enemies and protect an innocent woman.

The film will be produced by Constantin Film's Robert Kulzer, Bolt Pictures' Jeremy Bolt, Dark Horse Entertainment's Mike Richardson, and Keith Goldburg.

Bolt told Variety: "Mad Mikkelsen was born to play the world's best assassin. He is totally believable as the Black Kaiser in 'Polar' and Jonas' unique, vibrant but grounded an darkly comic style will set 'Polar' apart as an unforgettable tale."

Recently, Mikkelsen - who has played a string of murderous psychopaths, such as Kaecilius in 'Doctor Strange,' super-villain Le Chiffe in 'Casino Royale' and cannibal doctor Hannibal Lecter in TV series 'Hannibal' - claimed that such characters often see beauty in the world and want to make it a better place.

Asked whether it is disturbing playing so many villains, Mads explained: "No. Villains are people on a mission who see life in a different kind of way. It's rarely the villain that is dark.

"He is looked on as that but a good psychopath rarely goes around thinking they are a dark person."